PM says campaign against people smugglers like being at war

SCOTT BEVAN: The Prime Minister Tony Abbott has defended his Government's withholding information on asylum seeker operations, comparing it to the tactics the nation would use during a war.

Mr Abbott reiterated his view that the vast majority of people trying to get to Australia by boat are economic migrants, and he says everyone in a detention centre, after travelling here by boat, has done something they knew was wrong.

Samantha Donovan reports.

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: At a Sydney surf club this morning the Prime Minister exchanged pleasantries about surfing with the hosts of Channel 10's breakfast program. But the conversation then moved on to more serious matters off-shore.

Tony Abbott rejected criticism of his Government's policy not to reveal to the public exactly what's happening with asylum seeker boats at sea.

TONY ABBOTT: The public want the boats stopped, and if stopping the boats means being criticised because I'm not giving information that would be of use to people smugglers, so be it.

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: Mr Abbott says ultimately Australia is in a "fierce contest" with people smugglers.

TONY ABBOTT: If we were at war we wouldn't be giving out information that is of use to the enemy just because we might have an idle curiosity about it ourselves. And in these situations I am not going to release information which will be exploited by people smugglers to the peril of their customers and to the tremendous disadvantage of our country.

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: The Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says even in times of war, transparency and accountability are needed to give the Australians people confidence in their Government's actions.

He says Mr Abbott is showing a deep disrespect for the Australian people and Australians are getting more information from Indonesia than their own Government.

Mr Abbott says it's been several weeks since a boat has "successfully" arrived in Australia. He's confident detention centres are being run "effectively and humanely".

TONY ABBOTT: Everyone in these centres is there because he or she has come illegally to Australia by boat. They have done something that they must have known was wrong.

Now we don't apologise for the fact that they're not five star or even three star hotels. Nevertheless we are confident that we are well and truly discharging our humanitarian obligations. People are housed, they're clothed, they're fed, they're given medical attention, they're kept as safe as we can make it for them. But we want them to go back to the country from which they came.

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: Mr Abbott was asked if that was his view even in the case of genuine refugees.

TONY ABBOTT: Well the vast majority of these people, as the former foreign minister Bob Carr said, are economic migrants. Let's remember that every single one of the recent arrivals has come to Australia through a series of other countries where they could easily have claimed asylum.

I can absolutely understand why people living in a pretty tough place would want to come to a terrific country like Australia. We have an immigration program. We have a humanitarian and refugee program precisely because we do accept our obligations as an international citizen. But people have got to come the right way, not the wrong way. Try to come in the back door, you will find it closed.

That prompted this question from Channel 10's Natarsha Belling.

NATARSHA BELLING: Is there any part of you that feels so desperately sorry for these poor refugees that are in that situation? Often this is not their first choice. Their first choice is to stay in their country, but they're fleeing.

TONY ABBOTT: Tarsh, they're all coming from countries where life is harder, I accept that. I can accept the yearning, indeed I can cherish the yearning for a better life that beats in the hearts of every human being.

But I have a responsibility to the citizens of Australia to keep our country secure, to keep our borders safe. We have one of the world's more generous refugee and humanitarian programs; that will continue. We will never fail to be a good international citizen. But we've got to keep our borders secure and we've got to keep our country safe.

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: The Federal Government is releasing an update on asylum seeker arrivals and transfers today.

The office of Scott Morrison, the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, says weekly statements will continue to be provided and media conferences held as required. It says further announcements will be made about operational briefings after the holidays.